1 cook | Definition of cook

cook

noun
\ ˈku̇k How to pronounce cook (audio) \

Definition of cook

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a person who prepares food for eating
2 : a technical or industrial process comparable to cooking food also : a substance so processed

cook

verb
cooked; cooking; cooks

Definition of cook (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : to prepare food for eating especially by means of heat French cooking
2 : to undergo the action of being cooked the rice is cooking now
3 : occur, happen find out what was cooking in the committee
4 : to perform, do, or proceed well the jazz quartet was cooking along the party cooked right through the night

transitive verb

1 : concoct, fabricate usually used with up cooked up a scheme
2 : to prepare for eating by a heating process
3 : falsify, doctor cooked the books with phony spending cuts and accounting gimmickry— Colleen O'Connor
4 : to subject to the action of heat or fire
cook one's goose
: to make one's failure or ruin certain

Cook

biographical name
\ ˈku̇k How to pronounce Cook (audio) \

Definition of Cook (Entry 3 of 3)

James 1728–1779 English navigator and explorer

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Other Words from cook

Verb

cookable \ ˈku̇-​kə-​bəl How to pronounce cookable (audio) \ adjective

Examples of cook in a Sentence

Noun

the hearty meals prepared by the cook at summer camp

Verb

Cook the onions over low heat. She cooked a great meal. The fish was cooked in a white wine sauce. Carrots can be cooked, but they are often eaten raw. We're too busy to cook at home. He enjoys cooking on the weekends. The rice is still cooking, but it will be ready in 10 minutes. There's something cooking, but he won't say what.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Wedded bliss may be in the future for Daisy, the assistant cook, and footman Andy. Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, "These Two Characters May Wed in the Downton Abbey Movie," 11 Sep. 2019 LongHorn is still hiring for hosts, line cooks, servers, bartenders, and dishwasher. cleveland.com, "LongHorn Steakhouse prepares for Grand Opening in Avon: Short Takes on Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville," 31 Aug. 2019 Ugo, a wonderful cook, loved to travel, was a great gardener, enjoyed swimming daily, being active and spending time with others. sun-sentinel.com, "Deaths in South Florida: 8/25," 25 Aug. 2019 Kitchen collaboration My mom was more of a soul food cook, and definitely comfort food. Kristine M. Kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "BeBe’s food truck, a tribute to owner’s late mother, is known for its Italian beef," 23 Aug. 2019 The book did, of course, change everything—for restaurant-goers and for writers, and most powerfully, for cooks, who were, in a single instant, as if from on high, delivered a spokesman, and champion, and poet laureate. David Canfield, EW.com, "Get a glimpse into Anthony Bourdain’s legacy in The Last Interview exclusive book excerpt," 19 Aug. 2019 The Glen will be interviewing for cooks, dining room managers, hosts, servers, dishwashers and other positions in the food and beverage department. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, "North County Business Briefs, Aug. 15," 15 Aug. 2019 His job skills included landscaping, line cook, and construction. courant.com, "David James Graskoski," 7 Aug. 2019 Thousands of years ago, some enterprising cook (and total genius) figured out that adding cucumbers to a brine and waiting a while made arguably the world’s favorite way to eat a cucumber. Justin Ward, ExpressNews.com, "How to make simple pickles at home," 7 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

As for cooking with corn, well, variations are as legion as its placement all over the globe. Bill St. John, The Denver Post, "Get Cooking: Inside the world of corn," 11 Sep. 2019 Pasta salad: This could be as easy as cooking up some rotini and throwing in some broccoli or peas (or any vegetable your kids will eat) and mixing with bottled dressing. Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Skip the PB&J and pack a Wisconsin school lunch inspired by tailgating, Kwik Trip and the State Fair," 10 Sep. 2019 Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Carrie Knauer, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Carrie’s Kitchen: Year of the Apple continues with savory trio of recipes," 9 Sep. 2019 This social enterprise is run by immigrant/refugee food entrepreneurs cooking and selling an eclectic mix of dishes from their home countries of Syria, Sudan and Venezuela. Brittney Oliver, Essence, "Black City Guide: 72 Hours in Memphis," 9 Sep. 2019 The steaks are also a steal and cooked perfectly to temp. Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, "These are 9 definitive Downriver dining destinations," 6 Sep. 2019 Wolf says the product looks like a peeled, deveined and tailless cooked shrimp but is hypoallergenic, lower in calories and cholesterol, and higher in fiber. Laura Reiley, Anchorage Daily News, "Tyson Foods launches alt-shrimp made from plants - and it could be jumbo," 6 Sep. 2019 Wolf says the product looks like a peeled, deveined and tailless cooked shrimp but is hypoallergenic, lower in calories and cholesterol, and higher in fiber. al, "Tyson launching plant-based shrimp alternative," 5 Sep. 2019 Meanwhile, the new, 22,000 square-foot Samsung KX space in Coal Drops Yard will offer live events and multi-sensory experiences, from yoga classes to cooking workshops, powered by Samsung technology. Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard, "For The 'Gram: Mabel Performs Photo-Friendly 'Vertical' Concert," 5 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cook.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cook

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

History and Etymology for cook

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cōc, from Latin coquus, from coquere to cook; akin to Old English āfigen fried, Greek pessein to cook

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